DetroitDarin
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So - all three cars running now. Finally. This expedition has been a bit of a money pit JUST counting repairs. I half-way hate that I bought it. Looks good, but the sales price is deceiving what-with all the stuff I've had to spend just to make it work like stock. Heater core within a month - $600. Both rear wheel bearings $400. Plugs and COPs - $400. Rear wiper motor (which worked when I installed the replacement, but the SECOND I finished re-installing the trim pieces it stopped working so I'll have to spend another $100 on ANOTHER motor and figure out the wiring bugs) $100. Lemme see...OH! Rebuild and re-install the transmission, u-joint, and trans lines - $2100 on that one. Now, I did spend a couple-few hundred extra on better transmission components (tq converter and stronger 'other' parts). Both front rotors and pads $100 or so. Hrm...Pain in the ass. All that within 18 months and 25k miles of ownership; purchased in Aug 2013 for $12,500 with 88k miles.
Chalk it up for "Buy American" eh? I figure they - especially around where I live - are so ****-ish on 'buy american' so we can ALSO buy their repair parts and services. :-/
Maybe I'll sell it for an Armada?
Anywho - but to be fair - the F150 in the pic, since I bought it in 2005 or 2006: New battery $75. Pads/Rotors $200. Right front wheel bearing and one COP $200. All spark plugs $300. Rear Window leaking/replaced it $220.
Otherwise, that truck has performed flawlessly for 50k miles or so.
The mazda?
the CAR has 100,000k miles now; the engine about 83k since it was replaced.
Short history:
Within the first year or so, 3 cats, plugs, coils, clutch (clutch went at 13k miles; catastrophic pressure plate destruction), new transmission... uh...few more things it's just been so long I don't recall. All replaced under warranty.
The 8 sits, generally, in the driveway. Last few years I average about 2-3000k miles, probably topped at 5 or 6k one of those years.
I'm missing part of the under tray.
The radio needs to come out because the radio and HVAC shut off randomly; I have the radio out JUST ENOUGH so now nothing works and I'm stuck.
Driver's headlight shuts off while driving; I'm thinking it needs a new ballast.
The engine overheated a few nights back and now the coolant lamp refuses to shut off.
But I cannot even consider selling the car. Just means a lot to me, still.
I've driven it from Seattle to LA (Lower Alabama) then up here to north-of-Detroit - With a trip to Kansas City and back thrown in, and I think as a road trip car, it's fantastic.
5 December will be my 10th Anniversary of ownership and I probably would do it all over again.
I had a kid come up to me during my Son's football game.
"You're Ethan's dad?"
"Yes"
"I love your car!"
"Which - my truck?"
"No...your Audi."
"I don't have an audi."
"Yeah, silver, black wheels, low to the ground?"
"That's a mazda. RX8"
Kid stares blankly.
"Really??" He asked
"I'm pretty sure." I said.
